Lawrence USD 497 to expand AVID districtwide, leaders say program boosts student readiness

Lawrence Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Ginny Swift and district AVID leaders told the Board of Education on May 12 that the district will implement AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) across all traditional schools by 2026.

District officials said AVID is a system of instructional strategies and student supports — summarized by the WICR framework (writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization and reading) — intended to give students the classroom and organizational skills associated with college and career readiness. “We will be a fully implemented AVID district,” Dr. Swift told the board.

AVID leaders reviewed the district’s rollout and gave two case studies. Dr. Sarah Hossettler, who supports AVID implementation districtwide, said the program began in the high schools in 2012, expanded to middle schools in 2015 and was introduced at some elementary schools in a staggered sequence beginning in 2018. At the meeting she framed the update as the question, “How are we growing AVID implementation for student success here in Lawrence Public Schools?”

Southwest Middle School Principal Dr. Carissa Miles described how the school uses AVID tutorials, organization supports and staff professional learning to keep students on track. She said AVID started at Southwest with a small elective and now provides schoolwide practices, including an introductory sixth-grade “AVID light” class. “We’re not going to assume that every kid comes to school with those skills already in place,” Dr. Miles said, describing explicit instruction in planners, study routines and executive-functioning supports for adolescents.

Amanda Green, principal at Sunflower Elementary, described AVID strategies for early grades, including focused note-taking, cooperative learning and monthly, teacher-led professional development focused on AVID routines. Green said even young students can be taught habits often associated with older learners: “Students absolutely can do that rigorous work,” she said, noting first graders from Miss Jessica Brown’s class presented a fundraising project to the board earlier in the meeting.

District leaders said training is scheduled over the summer — including an upcoming July training and summer institute — to prepare staff in schools that will newly adopt AVID. Dr. Hossettler said some teachers and administrators from new AVID buildings have already invited district staff to observe and begin implementation work.

Officials cited early operational results and program priorities: bolder alignment across K–12, consistent instructional strategies the district can scale, and student leadership and agency. Dr. Miles said local data tools (ION) are being used to track attendance, behavior entries and achievement for AVID participants and nonparticipants; she said the district sees better attendance and fewer disciplinary entries among students in AVID pathways and that achievement data “continues to increase.”

The presentation closed with plans to continue alignment across elementary, middle and high schools and to expand opportunities for student leadership, including “grad walks” by seniors visiting younger students later this spring.

District staff and principals offered to return with implementation metrics and spring assessment data after summer trainings to show year-over-year changes.

The AVID presentation was given as part of the regular board meeting and involved no formal board vote.